212 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
a shell-heap,—opportunities again occur of a double shot, as you see the 
Plover coming, but to kill a double here is also quick practice. On fine 
calm weather Plover, however, often come across the sea-wall at a great 
height, and do not lower until almost over the tide-mark, or at all évents a 
good 100 or 150 yards beyond the shell-bank. At such times the shooting 
is seldom good, and the only plan is to get out upon the mud as far as 
possible, and keep a sharp look out for stray shots. Plover after their dive 
down over the sea-wall often separate and scatter over the mud, uniting 
their forces again as they approach the edge of the water. These scattered 
birds usually fly with great velocity, and sometimes twist and turn almost 
like Snipe. It seems, indeed, as if the very impetuosity of their headlong 
dive across the sea-wall had deprived them of the power of re-directing their 
flight, and as if the twists and turns were made in the effort to steady it 
again. Here is an opportunity for another kind of shot, and a very pretty 
one it is, too. Altogether, at least upon our coast, there is abundant diversity 
of shots at single birds to be had, and often, with or without a second gun, 
five or six couples may be bagged, and sometimes more, if one hits off just 
the right tides—just the right wind and weather. There is comparatively 
little written, I think, upon this part of the shore-shooter’s experiences. It 
has always seemed to me to be of first importance for a successful day's 
Plever or shore-shooting, to have—/irst, the wind right; second, the tide 
right; and, third, the weather not with too much rain, or vice versa, and 
with, later in the year, a certain amount of frost. If to this be added mist 
off the sea, keeping the birds from straying far inland, good sport may be 
looked for; but in misty weather birds “bunch up” more than they do 
in clear weather, as a rule—J. A. Harvir Brown (Dunipace House, 
Larbert, N.B.). 
Tue Nesting Hasirs or tHe Warer OvuzeL.—The Water Ouzel, or, 
as it is more commonly called, the Dipper, is very frequently met with 
in the English Lake District, as also in many other parts of England, 
Scotland and Wales. It loves wild hilly districts, and especially rapid 
rivers fed by mountain streams. Here, amid the rocks and waterfalls, 
it may be observed, now flying, or rather darting, up or down the stream, 
and in its manner of flight resembling the Kingfisher and Sandpiper; 
anon sitting on a stone or rock in mid-stream, or, if in search of food, 
walking at the bottom of the stream in seareh-of water beetles and other 
insects. It is a shy bird, and from its rapid movements very likely to 
elude observation. There can be no mistaking it, however, for any other 
species; its white breast, brownish black back, short tail, and feet so 
-admirably adapted for walking on stones, cannot fail to distinguish it. 
Water Ouzels are early breeders; one year I saw no less than eight nests 
in the neighbourhood of Windermere; they were all built in April, and 
